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PHILADELPHIA — MLB will be without its two biggest stars for this year’s All-Star Game events.
Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, the two-time reigning National League MVP and by far the NL ASG vote leader, will sit out the All-Star Game to receive treatment on his left knee. The pain Ohtani experiences in his knee happens when he pitches, but not when he hits; he is also skipping his final pitching start before the midseason showcase.
In addition, Ohtani is set to have fluid in that left knee drained on Sunday.
“He’s been managing this quite well, the knee, and so if there’s a chance that we could be proactive and get it drained and do whatever we need to do to try to manage it, along with the rest for the All-Star break, we were going to do that,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
With that absence, Ohtani will join Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, the two-time reigning American League MVP and No. 2 in AL ASG voting behind Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement, despite having not played in nearly six weeks. Judge has been on the injured list since early June with a rib stress fracture.
Judge is slated to use part of the All-Star break to get his rib re-imaged. While the Dodgers are again MLB’s best club at this point in the season and are seeking a third straight World Series title, the Yankees have gone just 15–17 since Judge went on the injured list.
“I don’t think we’re anticipating it’s coming back clean,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman said of the forthcoming scan. “I think we’re anticipating and hopeful that it’s showing the healing process.”
The loss of two global superstars represents a sizable blow for MLB as it begins its run of All-Star Game events in earnest this weekend, and seeks to regain some of the sports spotlight from the recent NBA Finals and ongoing World Cup that is drawing unprecedented viewership.
Ohtani and Judge are regularly among the two most popular players with fans, and ranked first and second, respectively, in jersey sales last year.
More Attention for Schwarber and Harper
With Judge and Ohtani not in Philadelphia, the events are likely to lean even further into the Phillies’ hometown heroes.
Philadelphia DH Kyle Schwarber, the current MLB home run leader, is now poised to start for the NL at that position with Ohtani out, and is also one of the eight scheduled competitors in Monday’s Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park. Schwarber is no stranger to All-Star Game dramatics, winning the MVP award in last year’s game following his heroics in a first-ever tiebreaker.
One of the other seven in the home run contest will be Schwarber’s Phillies teammate, first baseman Bryce Harper.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred earlier this month used one of his “legend picks” for the All-Star Game on Harper, despite a labor-related blowup between the two last year.
“Definitely grateful for that,” Harper said of the selection and a subsequent conversation with Manfred about that choice. “And I think I deserved to be in the game for the way I’ve played.”
Entering Saturday’s games, Harper is batting .258 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs. Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez is also a top candidate to start the All-Star Game on the mound for the NL.
Fox, airing the All-Star Game, will have a higher climb to regain viewership momentum after last year’s 3% audience drop. The loss of Ohtani and Judge doesn’t help.
